Write-once-type recording medium, recording apparatus and method for write-once-type recording medium, and reproducing apparatus and method for write-once-type recording medium

ABSTRACT

On a write-once-type recording medium  10 , there are provided: a definite defect management area  13  to definitely record therein defect management information; and a plurality of temporary defect management areas  14 A,  14 B, and  14 C to temporarily record therein the defect management information. If the recording medium  10  is not yet finalized, every time the defect management information is updated, the updated defect management information is recorded into any one of the plurality of temporary defect management areas. Moreover, a status information recording area  15  is provided on the recording medium  10 , and status information for indicating the temporary defect management area in which there is the defect management information recorded at last is recorded into the status information recording area  15 . By referring to the status information, it is possible to quickly specify the defect management information recorded at last.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a write-once-type recording medium, arecording apparatus for and a recording method of recording record dataonto the write-once-type recording medium, and a reproducing apparatusfor and a reproducing method of reproducing the record data recorded onthe write-once-type recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

As a technique of improving the reliability of the recording and readingof record data on a high-density recording medium, such as an opticaldisc, a magnetic disc, and a magneto optical disc, there is defectmanagement. Namely, when there are scratches or dusts, or deterioration(which are collectively referred to as a “defect”) on the recordingmedium, data to be recorded or already recorded at the position of thedefect is recorded in another area on the recording medium (which isreferred to as a “spare area”). As described above, by evacuating, tothe spare area, the record data which is possibly imperfectly orincompletely recorded or read because of the defect, it is possible toimprove the reliability of the recording and reading of the record data(refer to Japanese Patent Application Laying Open NO. Hei 11-185390).

In general, a defect list is generated to perform the defect management.On the defect list, there are recorded address information forindicating the position of a defect on the recording medium, and addressinformation for indicating a position in the spare area (e.g. arecording position in the spare area) to which the data to be recordedor already recorded at the position of the defect is evacuated.

In general, the defect list is generated when a recording medium isinitialized or formatted. It is also generated when the record data isrecorded onto the recording medium and when the position of a defect isfound by verifying the record data, or the like. By recording orreproducing the record data, the defect list is generated or updatedevery time the position of the defect is detected.

When the record data is recorded onto the recording medium, the defectlist is referred to. This allows the recording of the record data ontothe recording medium away from the position of a defect. On the otherhand, the defect list is also referred to when the record data recordedon the recording medium is reproduced. This makes it possible to surelyread both the record data recorded in a normal recording area and therecord data recorded in the spare area because of the presence of adefect, on the basis of the defect list.

The defect list is generally recorded in a specific area on therecording medium, which is the object of the generation or updating ofthe defect list. The defect list is read from the recording medium nexttime when the record data recorded on the recording medium is reproducedor when other record data is rewritten or additionally recorded. Thenthe defect list is referred to in a recording operation by a recordingapparatus or in a reproduction operation by a reproducing apparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The defect list is recorded in a specific area on the recording medium.For example, with respect to a rewritable-type optical disc using a bluelaser, the defect list is recorded in a predetermined area (which ishereinafter referred to as a “defect management area”) reserved in alead-in area or lead-out area on the disc.

As described above, the defect list is updated when the record data isrecorded and rewritten and when the position of the defect is found, orthe like. Then, the defect list is overwritten in the defect managementarea on the recording medium, which is the object of the recording andrewriting, every time the defect list is updated by the recording andrewriting of record data. Namely, the defect list in the defectmanagement area is rewritten every time the defect list is updated.

Such updating of the defect list by rewriting it can be realized only incase that the recording medium is a rewritable-type. In case that therecording medium is a so-called “write-once-type recording medium”, forexample, a write-once-type optical disc, it is necessary to use anothermethod to realize the updating of the defect list. For example, as amethod of realizing the updating of the defect list, there is such amethod that every time the defect lit is updated, the updated defectlist is additionally recorded into a new unrecorded area on thewrite-once-type recording medium.

According to this method, however, every time the defect list isupdated, it is necessary to reserve an area to additionally recordtherein the updated defect list. Moreover, it is necessary to predict inadvance how many times the defect list will be updated, and reserve inadvance the defect management area large enough to record the defectlist by the number of times. In any cases, in order to realize theupdating of the defect list on the write-once-type recording medium, itis necessary to reserve a wide range of area (i.e. the defect managementarea) to record therein the defect list, as compared to the case wherethe defect list can be rewritten.

As a result, there is such a problem that the data structure of thewrite-once-type recording medium is different from that of arewritable-type recording medium, and thus there is no compatibilitywith each other, with regard to the reading of the data recorded on therecording medium. For example, if the defect management area is expandedin the lead-in area, the lead-in area is expanded, which causes adifferent range of the lead-in area between the write-once-typerecording medium and the rewritable-type recording medium. This causesincompatibility between the both recording media, which may result insuch a problem that an existing drive apparatus for the rewritable-typerecording medium cannot reproduce the data on the write-once-typerecording medium.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide: awrite-once-type recording medium which has a defect management functionand has compatibility with a rewritable-type recording medium; arecording apparatus for and a recording method of recording the recorddata onto the write-once-type recording medium; and a reproducingapparatus for and a reproducing method of reproducing the record datarecorded on the write-once-type recording medium.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by awrite-once-type recording medium provided with: a data area to recordtherein record data; a control information recording area to recordtherein information for controlling an operation of recording and/orreading in the data area, the control information recording areaincluding a definite defect management area to record therein defectmanagement information of the data area; a plurality of temporary defectmanagement areas to temporarily record therein the defect managementinformation of the data area; and a status information recording area inwhich status information for indicating a recording status of oneportion or each of the plurality of temporary defect management areas isto be recorded.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by arecording apparatus for recording record data onto a write-once-typerecording medium provided with: (i) a data area to record therein therecord data; (ii) a control information recording area to record thereininformation for controlling an operation of recording and/or reading inthe data area, the control information recording area including adefinite defect management area to record therein defect managementinformation of the data area; (iii) a plurality of temporary defectmanagement areas to temporarily record therein the defect managementinformation of the data area; and (iv) a status information recordingarea in which status information for indicating a recording status ofone portion or each of the plurality of temporary defect managementareas is to be recorded, the recording apparatus provided with: a firstrecording device for recording the record data into the data area; amemory device for storing therein the defect management information; asecond recording device for recording the defect management informationstored in the memory device, into any one of the plurality of temporarydefect management areas; a status information generating device forgenerating the status information for indicating the recording status ofone portion or each of the plurality of temporary defect managementareas; a third recording device for recording the status informationgenerated by the status information generating device, into the statusinformation recording area; and a fourth recording device for recordingthe defect management information stored in the memory device into thedefinite defect management area.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by areproducing apparatus for reproducing record data recorded on awrite-once-type recording medium provided with: (i) a data area torecord therein the record data; (ii) a control information recordingarea to record therein information for controlling an operation ofrecording and/or reading in the data area, the control informationrecording area including a definite defect management area to recordtherein defect management information of the data area; (iii) aplurality of temporary defect management areas to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of the data area; and (iv) astatus information recording area in which status information forindicating a recording status of one portion or each of the plurality oftemporary defect management areas is to be recorded, the reproducingapparatus provided with: a first reading device for reading the statusinformation recorded in the status information recording area; an arearecognizing device for recognizing one temporary defect management areain which the defect management information recorded at last in time isrecorded, on the basis of the status information read by the firstreading device; a second reading device for reading the defectmanagement information recorded in the one temporary defect managementarea recognized by the area recognizing device; and a reproducing devicefor reproducing the record data recorded in the data area, on the basisof the defect management information read by the second reading device.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by afirst computer program of instructions for tangibly embodying a programof instructions executable by a computer to make the computer functionas the above-described recording apparatus of the present invention(including its various aspects).

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by asecond computer program of instructions for tangibly embodying a programof instructions executable by a computer to make the computer functionas the above-described reproducing apparatus of the present invention(including its various aspects).

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by afirst computer program product in a computer-readable medium fortangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer tomake the computer function as the above-described recording apparatus ofthe present invention (including its various aspects).

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by asecond computer program product in a computer-readable medium fortangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer tomake the computer function as the above-described reproducing apparatusof the present invention (including its various aspects).

According to the first or second computer program product of the presentinvention, the recording apparatus or the reproducing apparatus of thepresent invention described above can be embodied relatively readily, byloading the computer program product from a recording medium for storingthe computer program product, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a harddisk or the like, into the computer, or by downloading the computerprogram product, which may be a carrier wave, into the computer via acommunication device. More specifically, the first or second computerprogram product may be provided with computer readable codes (orcomputer readable commands) to make the computer to function as therecording apparatus or the reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention described above.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by arecording method of recording record data onto a write-once-typerecording medium provided with: (i) a data area to record therein therecord data; (ii) a control information recording area to record thereininformation for controlling an operation of recording and/or reading inthe data area, the control information recording area including adefinite defect management area to record therein defect managementinformation of the data area; (iii) a plurality of temporary defectmanagement areas to temporarily record therein the defect managementinformation of the data area; and (iv) a status information recordingarea in which status information for indicating a recording status ofone portion or each of the plurality of temporary defect managementareas is to be recorded, the recording method provided with: a firstrecording process of recording the record data into the data area; adefect management information generating process of generating orupdating the defect management information; a second recording processof recording the defect management information generated or updated inthe defect management information generating process, into any one ofthe plurality of temporary defect management areas; a status informationgenerating process of generating the status information for indicatingthe recording status of one portion or each of the plurality oftemporary defect management areas; a third recording process ofrecording the status information generated in the status informationgenerating process, into the status information recording area; afinalizing process of finalizing the write-once-type recording medium;and a fourth recording process of recording the defect managementinformation generated or updated in the defect management informationgenerating process, into the definite defect management area, iffinalizing is performed in the finalizing process.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by areproducing method of reproducing record data recorded on awrite-once-type recording medium provided with: (i) a data area torecord therein the record data; (ii) a control information recordingarea to record therein information for controlling an operation ofrecording and/or reading in the data area, the control informationrecording area including a definite defect management area to recordtherein defect management information of the data area; (iii) aplurality of temporary defect management areas to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of the data area; and (iv) astatus information recording area in which status information forindicating a recording status of one portion or each of the plurality oftemporary defect management areas is to be recorded, the reproducingmethod provided with: a finalize detecting process of detecting whetheror not the write-once-type recording medium is already finalized; afirst reading process of reading the defect management informationrecorded in the definite defect management area and of storing thedefect management information into a memory device, if thewrite-once-type recording medium is already finalized; a second readingprocess of reading the status information recorded in the statusinformation recording area, if the write-once-type recording medium isnot yet finalized; an area recognizing process of specifying onetemporary defect management area in which the defect managementinformation recorded at last in time is recorded, on the basis of thestatus information read in the first reading process; a third readingprocess of reading the defect management information recorded in the onetemporary defect management area recognized in the area recognizingprocess; and a reproducing process of reproducing the record datarecorded in the data area, on the basis of the defect managementinformation read in the third reading process.

These functions and other advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following descriptions of embodiments and examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of awrite-once-type recording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a status in which one piece ofdefect management information is recorded on the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a status in which four piecesof defect management information are recorded on the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a status in which eight piecesof defect management information are recorded on the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a recordingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the recordingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a reproducingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the reproducingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a first example of the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a second example of thewrite-once-type recording medium of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the defectmanagement information;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a defect list;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of statusinformation;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a status in which four piecesof defect management information are recorded on an optical disc;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of the statusinformation;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a third example of the statusinformation;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a status in which four piecesof defect management information are recorded on the optical disc;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a fourth example of the statusinformation;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a status in which four piecesof defect management information are recorded on the optical disc;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a recording/reproducing apparatus,which has functions of the recording apparatus and the reproducingapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the structure of a disc drive;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the structure of a backend;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the initial setting of therecording/reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the recording processing of therecording/reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the finalize processing of therecording/reproducing apparatus; and

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the reproduction processing of therecording/reproducing apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to the drawings hereinafter.

EMBODIMENT OF THE WRITE-ONCE-TYPE RECORDING MEDIUM

An embodiment of the write-once-type recording medium of the presentinvention will be explained with reference to the drawings.Incidentally, the drawings used for the explanation of the embodimentsof the present invention embody constitutional elements or the like ofthe recording medium, the recording apparatus, and the reproducingapparatus of the present invention only for the purpose of explainingtechnical ideas thereof. The shape, size, position, connectionrelationship, and the like of various constitutional elements or thelike are not limited to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the recording structure of a write-once-type recordingmedium 10 in the embodiment of the present invention. Thewrite-once-type recording medium 10 is a disc-shaped recording medium.The left side of FIG. 1 is the inner circumferential side of thewrite-once-type recording medium, and the right side is the outercircumferential side of the write-once-type recording medium.Incidentally, the shape of the write-once-type recording medium of thepresent invention is not limited to a disc-shape. The present inventioncan be applied to recording media of other shapes, such as a card-shapedrecording medium. Moreover, the present invention can be applied to atwo-layer disc (i.e. a dual or double layer type disc). Moreover, therecording method of the write-once-type recording medium of the presentinvention is not limited. The present invention can be applied to arecording medium which uses, for example, light, magnetism,magneto-optics, a phase change, the polarization direction of adielectric substance, near-field light, or the like.

The recording medium 10 is a write-once-type recording medium whichallows the recording of data or information only once at each position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording medium 10 is provided with: a dataarea 11; a control information recording area 12; a definite defectmanagement area 13; a plurality of temporary defect management areas14A, 14B, and 14C; and a status information recording area 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the definite defect management area 13, the statusinformation recording area 15, and the temporary defect management area14A are in the control information recording area 12. The temporarydefect management area 14B is placed between the control informationrecording area 12 and the data area 11. The temporary defect managementarea 14C is placed on the outer circumferential side of the data area11. Incidentally, except that the definite defect management area 13 isplaced in the control information recording area 12, there is nolimitation on the arrangement of these areas. For example, the statusinformation recording area 15 may be placed out of the controlinformation recording area 12, and the temporary defect management area14A may be placed out of the control information recording area 12.However, by arranging these areas as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible toobtain an advantageous effect. This advantageous effect will bedescribed later.

The data area 11 is intended to record therein the “record data”. Therecord data is data which is mainly the object of reproduction orexecution, including, e.g., image data; audio data; text data; contentdata; a computer program; or the like.

The control information recording area 12 is intended to record thereincontrol information. The control information is to control an operationof recording/reading in the data area. It includes information forindicating the attribute and type of the recording medium, informationfor managing the recording address of the record data, information forcontrolling a drive apparatus, information for performing defectmanagement, and the like, for example. The control information recordingarea 12 is a lead-in area or a lead-out area, for example.

The definite defect management area 13 is intended to record therein thedefect management information of the data area 11. The temporary defectmanagement areas 14A, 14B, and 14C are intended to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of the data area 11.

The defect management information is information used for the defectmanagement. The defect management is as follows; namely, if there is adefect, such as scratches, dusts, and deterioration, in or on therecording medium 10, the record data is recorded away from the positionof the defect. At the same time, the data to be recorded or alreadyrecorded at the position of the defect is alternatively recorded into aspare area. Moreover, the following processing is performed as a part ofthe defect management: recognizing the position of a defect uponreproducing the record data recorded on the recording medium 10; andreading the record data to be originally recorded or already recorded atthe position of the defect, from the spare area.

A defect list is used for the defect management. On the defect list,there are recorded: address information for indicating the position of adefect on the recording medium 10; and address information forindicating a position (i.e. a position in the spare area) where therecord data to be recorded or already recorded at the position of thedefect is recorded. The defect management information includes such adefect list.

The defect management information is generated when the recording medium10 is initialized or when the record data is recorded onto the recordingmedium 10 (e.g. at the time of verifying). Moreover, the presence of adefect and its position differ on the individual recording media.Therefore, the defect management information also differs on theindividual recording media. Thus, the defect management informationgenerated for the recording medium 10 is recorded onto the recordingmedium 10. For example, when the initialization of the recording medium10 is completed, or when the recording of the record data is completed,the defect management information is recorded onto the recording medium10.

The defect changes or increases, along with the continuous use of therecording medium 10. For example, fingerprints are often left on arecording surface during the use of the recording medium. Thus, thedefect management information is updated every time there is a chance toperform the recording or reproduction with respect to the recordingmedium 10. For example, at the time of the additional or postscriptrecording or the reproduction with respect to the recording medium 10,the defect management information recorded on the recording medium 10 isread, and the address information of a new defect or the like isappended to the defect list included in the defect managementinformation. The defect management information updated in this manner isrecorded again onto the recording medium 10 when the additionalrecording or the reproduction is completed, for example.

As described above, the definite defect management area 13 and thetemporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C have in common inthat they are all the areas to record therein the defect managementinformation. However, they are different in that the definite defectmanagement area 13 is an area to definitely record therein the defectmanagement information, while the temporary defect management areas 14A,14B, and 14C are areas to temporarily record therein the defectmanagement information.

If the updating of the defect management information is predetermined orscheduled, the defect management information is recorded into any one ofthe temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C. The case wherethe updating of the defect management information is predetermined is acase where the recording medium 10 is not finalized, for example.

If the updating of the defect management information is not necessary ornot possible, the defect management information is recorded into thedefinite defect management area 13. The case where the updating of thedefect management information is not necessary or not possible is a casewhere the recording medium 10 is finalized, for example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the areal size in total of the temporary defectmanagement areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is larger than that of the definitedefect management area 13. Therefore, it is possible to record muchdefect management information in the temporary defect management areas14A, 14B, and 14C. By this, it is possible to increase the number oftimes that the defect management information can be updated.

Namely, since the recording medium 10 is a write-once-type recordingmedium, it is impossible to overwrite the information. Thus, the defectmanagement information is additionally recorded into the temporarydefect management area every time the defect management information isupdated. As a result, if the defect management information is updatedseveral times, a plurality of pieces of defect management informationindividually remain in the temporary defect management area. Thus, inorder to increase the number of times that the defect managementinformation can be updated, it is necessary to increase the number oftimes that the defect management information can be additionallyrecorded. For that purpose, it is necessary to allow the additional orpostscript recording of much defect management information, byincreasing the areal size of the temporary defect management area.According to the embodiment, the areal size in total of the temporarydefect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is large, so that it ispossible to additionally record much defect management information, andthus, it is possible to increase the number of times that the defectmanagement information can be updated.

Moreover, the temporary defect management area is divided into the threetemporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C, and they aredistributed and placed on the recording medium 10. By this, it ispossible to reserve or ensure the temporary defect management area whilethe areas to record therein the record data and the control informationare maintained. For example, even if the data area 11 and the controlinformation recording area 12 are defined in the existing standard, itis possible to use space areas scattered on the recording medium (e.g.areas allowed to be freely used), as the temporary defect managementareas 14A, 14B, and 14C. Incidentally, the number of the temporarydefect management areas may be two or more.

On the other hand, the definite defect management area 13 is smallerthan the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C, and thenumber thereof is one. This is because it is enough if one defectmanagement information which is defined at the time of finalizing can berecorded into the definite defect management area 13. Incidentally, itmay be constructed such that the definite defect management area is setto be somewhat large, or a plurality of definite defect management areasare provided, to thereby record the defined defect managementinformation into the definite defect management area or areas,repeatedly, twice or more times. By this, it is possible to improve therobustness of the recording and the reproduction of the defectmanagement information.

Moreover, the definite defect management area 13 is placed in thecontrol information recording area 12. By this, it is possible toprovide compatibility between the write-once-type recording medium 10and a general rewritten-type recording medium.

Namely, the defect management information is a kind of controlinformation. Therefore, it is desirable to record the defect managementinformation into the area to record therein the control information,i.e. the control information recording area. Thus, it is desirable toplace the defect management area in the control information recordingarea. Even in many rewritten-type recording media which are generallyspread, the defect management area is placed in the control informationrecording area. Therefore, according to the embodiment, by placing thedefinite defect management area 13 in the control information recordingarea 12, and recording the defined defect management information intothe definite defect management area 13, it is possible to provide thecompatibility between the write-once-type recording medium 10 and thegeneral rewritten-type recording medium. By this, it is possible toreproduce the data on the write-once-type recording medium 10 by using adrive apparatus for the general rewritten-type recording medium.

The status information recording area 15 is intended to record thereinstatus information for indicating the recording status of one portion oreach of the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C. Byreferring to the status information recorded in the status informationrecording area 15, it is possible to quickly specify and read the defectmanagement information recorded at last in time (i.e. at the latest),out of the defect management information recorded in one portion or allof the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C.Incidentally, out of the defect management information recorded in oneportion or all of the plurality of temporary defect management areas,the defect management information recorded at last in time is referredto as “last defect management information” hereinafter.

The last defect management information is the newest defect managementinformation among the plurality of pieces of defect managementinformation recorded on the recording medium 10. In order to perform thedefect management by the recording apparatus and the reproducingapparatus for the write-once-type recording medium, it is necessary tosearch for and read the newest defect management information, i.e. thelast defect management information, from the recording medium 10. As amethod of searching for the last defect management information, there isa method of searching all of the temporary defect management areas 14A,14B, and 14C. However, since the temporary defect management areas 14A,14B, and 14C are distributed and placed on the recording medium 10, ittakes time (e.g. a seek time) to search all of the temporary defectmanagement areas 14A, 14B, and 14C. Thus, in the embodiment, the statusinformation is recorded into the status information recording area 15 onthe recording medium 10, one temporary defect management area in whichthe last defect management information is recorded is recognized on thebasis of the status information, and only the one defect management areais searched. This makes it possible to search for the last defectmanagement information in an extremely short time.

The specific content of the status information is not limited if it isinformation which allows the quick specification of the last defectmanagement information. However, if the status information isinformation having the following content, it is possible to efficientlyrealize the quick specification of the last defect managementinformation.

Namely, it is desirable that the status information includes informationfor indicating one temporary defect management area in which the defectmanagement information recorded at last in time (i.e. the last defectmanagement information) is recorded, out of the defect managementinformation recorded in one portion or all of the plurality of temporarydefect management areas. This aspect of the status information isreferred to as a “first aspect”, hereinafter.

Hereinafter, specific examples in which the last defect managementinformation is read on the basis of the status information in the firstaspect will be explained. FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 show a state in which thedefect management information is additionally recorded onto therecording medium 10. Incidentally, for convenience of explanation, thedisplay of the data area 11, the control information recording area 12,and the definite defect management area is omitted. The specificexamples shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 adopt a method in which every timethe defect management information is updated, the updated defectmanagement information is additionally recorded next to the previouslyrecorded defect management information, continuously. Moreover, thespecific examples shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 adopt a method in which thedefect management information is firstly recorded into the head of thetemporary defect management area 14A, and then, recorded into thetemporary defect management area 14B if the temporary defect managementarea 14A is filled up, and then, recorded into the temporary defectmanagement area 14C if the temporary defect management area 14B isfilled up. Moreover, each of the temporary defect management areas 14A,14B, and 14C is filled up if three pieces of defect managementinformation are recorded.

As shown in FIG. 2, if one defect management information 21 is recordedinto the temporary defect management area 14A, the defect managementinformation 21 is the last defect management information. In this case,the information for indicating the temporary defect management area 14Ais recorded into the status information recording area 15 as the statusinformation. By referring to the status information, it is possible torecognize the temporary defect management area 14A in which the lastdefect management information 21 is recorded. Then, only by searchingthe temporary defect management area 14A, it is possible to quicklyspecify and read the last defect management information 21. It isunnecessary to search the temporary defect management areas 14B and 14C.

As shown in FIG. 3, if three more defect management information 22 to 24are recorded into the temporary defect management areas 14A and 14B, thedefect management information 24 is the last defect managementinformation. In this case, the information for indicating the temporarydefect management area 14B is recorded into the status informationrecording area 15 as the status information. By referring to the statusinformation, it is possible to recognize the temporary defect managementarea 14B in which the last defect management information 24 is recorded.Then, only by searching the temporary defect management area 14B, it ispossible to quickly specify and read the last defect managementinformation 24. It is unnecessary to search the temporary defectmanagement areas 14A and 14C.

As shown in FIG. 4, if four more defect management information 25 to 28are recorded into the temporary defect management areas 14B and 14C, thedefect management information 28 is the last defect managementinformation. In this case, the information for indicating the temporarydefect management area 14C is recorded into the status informationrecording area 15 as the status information. By referring to the statusinformation, it is possible to recognize the temporary defect managementarea 14C in which the last defect management information 28 is recorded.Then, only by searching the temporary defect management area 14C, it ispossible to quickly specify and read the last defect managementinformation 28. It is unnecessary to search the temporary defectmanagement areas 14A and 14B.

Moreover, in place of the status information in the first state, thestatus information may be information having the following content.Namely, it may be constructed such that the status information includesinformation for indicating the presence or absence of an unrecorded areain one portion or each of the temporary defect management areas 14A,14B, and 14C. Hereinafter, this aspect of the status information isreferred to as a “second aspect”.

Hereinafter, specific examples in which the last defect managementinformation is read on the basis of the status information in the secondaspect will be explained, with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, if one defect management information 21 is recordedinto the temporary defect management area 14A, the defect managementinformation 21 is the last defect management information. In this case,the information for indicating that there is an unrecorded area in eachof the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is recordedinto the status information recording area 15 as the status information.If the order of recording the defect management information into thetemporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is known in advance,by referring to the status information, it is possible to recognize thetemporary defect management area 14A in which the last defect managementinformation 21 is recorded. Then, only by searching the temporary defectmanagement area 14A, it is possible to quickly specify and read the lastdefect management information 21. It is unnecessary to search thetemporary defect management areas 14B and 14C.

As shown in FIG. 3, if three more defect management information 22 to 24are recorded into the temporary defect management areas 14A and 14B, thedefect management information 24 is the last defect managementinformation. In this case, the information for indicating that there isan unrecorded area in each of the temporary defect management areas 14Band 14C is recorded into the status information recording area 15 as thestatus information. -If the order of recording the defect managementinformation into the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14Cis known in advance, by referring to the status information, it ispossible to recognize the temporary defect management area 14B in whichthe last defect management information 24 is recorded. Then, only bysearching the temporary defect management area 14B, it is possible toquickly specify and read the last defect management information 24. Itis unnecessary to search the temporary defect management areas 14A and14C.

As shown in FIG. 4, if four more defect management information 25 to 28are recorded into the temporary defect management areas 14B and 14C, thedefect management information 28 is the last defect managementinformation. In this case, the information for indicating that there isan unrecorded area only in the temporary defect management area 14C isrecorded into the status information recording area 15 as the statusinformation. If the order of recording the defect management informationinto the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is known inadvance, by referring to the status information, it is possible torecognize the temporary defect management area 14C in which the lastdefect management information 28 is recorded. Then, only by searchingthe temporary defect management area 14C, it is possible to quicklyspecify and read the last defect management information 28. It isunnecessary to search the temporary defect management areas 14A and 14B.

Incidentally, the specific examples in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 adopt a methodin which the defect management information is arranged sequentially fromthe head to the tail in each temporary defect management area. However,such a method may be adopted that the defect management information isarranged sequentially from the tail to the head in each temporary defectmanagement area. Incidentally, the specific examples in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4adopts a method in which the defect management information isadditionally recorded in order of the temporary defect management areas14A, 14B, and 14C. However, if the status information in the firstaspect is used, it is not particularly necessary to determine the orderof the temporary defect management areas to record therein the defectmanagement information. Moreover, the specific examples in FIG. 2 toFIG. 4 adopt a method in which after one temporary defect managementarea is filled up, then the defect management information is recordedinto the next temporary defect management area. However, if the statusinformation in the first aspect is used, such a method may be adoptedthat every time one defect management information is recorded, thetemporary defect management area to record it therein is changed, tothereby discretely record the plurality of defect management informationin the plurality of temporary defect management areas.

As described above, according to the recording medium 10, it is possibleto provide the compatibility between the write-once-type recordingmedium and the general rewritten-type recording medium while the defectmanagement is realized. Moreover, it is possible to reserve thetemporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C that are relativelylarge, and it is possible to increase the number of times that thedefect management information can be updated. Moreover, it is possibleto reserve the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C whilethe data area and the control information recording area are maintained.Furthermore, it is possible to quickly specify the last defectmanagement information recorded in any one of the temporary defectmanagement areas 14A, 14B, and 14C, on the basis of the statusinformation.

(Various Aspects of Write-Once-Type Recording Medium)

Various aspects of the write-once-type recording medium of the presentinvention will be explained. As explained above, there is no limitationon the arrangement of the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B,and 14C. However, as shown in FIG. 1, it is desirable that at least oneof the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is placed inthe control information recording area 12.

Namely, since the defect management information is a kind of controlinformation, it is desirable to record it into the control informationrecording area 12, originally. If so, it is desirable that at least oneof the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is placed inthe control information recording area 12.

Moreover, it is desirable that at least one of the temporary defectmanagement areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is placed between the controlinformation recording area 12 and the data area 11.

Namely, as described above, the temporary defect management areas 14A,14B, and 14C require a relatively large areal size. Therefore, forexample, if all of the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and14C are placed in the control information recording area 12, there is nochoice but to expand the control information recording area 12. Theexpansion of the control information recording area 12 causes such adisadvantage that it is difficult or impossible to provide thecompatibility between the write-once-type recording medium 10 and thegeneral rewritten-type recording medium. On the other hand, it isdisadvantageous that the temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and14C are placed in the data area 11. This is because the data area 11 isintended to record therein the record data, and not to record thereinthe control information. According to the embodiment, at least one ofthe temporary defect management areas 14A, 14B, and 14C is placedbetween the control information recording area 12 and the data area 11,so that the above-described disadvantage does not occur.

Moreover, there is no limitation on the arrangement of the statusinformation recording area 15. However, since the status information isa kind of control information, it is desirable to record it in thecontrol information recording area. Moreover, by recording the statusinformation into the control information recording area, it is possibleto continuously read the status information with other controlinformation (without a big jump of an optical pickup), and it ispossible to realize quick reading. Therefore, it is desirable to placethe status information recording area 15 in the control informationrecording area 12.

First Embodiment of Recording Apparatus

The first embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present inventionwill be explained. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the recordingapparatus of the present invention. A recording apparatus 30 shown inFIG. 5 is a recording apparatus for recording record data onto awrite-once-type recording medium. The write-once-type recording mediumis provided with: (i) a data area to record therein the record data;(ii) a control information recording area to record therein informationfor controlling an operation of recording and/or reading in the dataarea, the control information recording area including a definite defectmanagement area to record therein defect management information of thedata area; (iii) a plurality of temporary defect management areas totemporarily record therein the defect management information of the dataarea; and (iv) a status information recording area in which statusinformation for indicating a recording status of one portion or each ofthe plurality of temporary defect management areas. For example, therecording apparatus 30 is an apparatus for recording the record dataonto the above-described write-once-type recording medium 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the recording apparatus 30 is provided with: a firstrecording device 31; a memory device 32; a second recording device 33; astatus information generating device 34; a third recording device 35;and a fourth recording device 36.

The first recording device 31 records the record data into the dataarea. If the recording medium is an optical disc, the first recordingdevice 31 can be realized by an optical pickup, a controller forcontrolling the optical pickup, and the like. Incidentally, the specifichardware structure of the first recording device 31 can be arbitrarilyselected, depending on a recording method (light, magnetism,magneto-optics, phase-change, polarization direction of a dielectricsubstance, near-field light, or the like) adopted by the recordingmedium. For example, it may be a magnetic head or a probe.

The memory device 32 stores therein the defect management information.The memory device 32 can be realized by a memory and the like, forexample.

The second recording device 33 records the record data stored in thememory device 32, into one of the plurality of temporary defectmanagement areas. The specific hardware structure of the secondrecording device may be the same as that of the first recording device.

The status information generating device 34 generates the statusinformation for indicating the recording status of one portion or eachof the plurality of temporary defect management areas.

For example, the status information generating device 34 generates thestatus information including information for indicating one temporarydefect management area in which the defect management informationrecorded at last in time is recorded, out of the defect managementinformation recorded in one portion or all of the plurality of temporarydefect management areas. The generation of such status information canbe realized by recognizing, when the defect management information isrecorded into any one of the plurality of temporary defect managementareas, the recorded temporary defect management area, and extracting therecognition result as the information.

Moreover, in place of this, the status information generating device 34may generate the status information including information for indicatingthe presence or absence of an unrecorded area in one portion or each ofthe plurality of temporary defect management areas. The generation ofsuch status information can be realized by monitoring the recording ofthe defect management information, or by directly confirming therecording status of the temporary defect management area.

The third recording device 35 records the status information generatedby the status information generating device 34, into the statusinformation recording area. The specific hardware structure of the thirdrecording device 35 may be the same as that of the first recordingdevice 31.

The fourth recording device 36 records the defect management informationstored in the memory device 32, into the definite defect managementarea. The specific hardware structure of the fourth recording device 36may be the same as that of the first recording device 31.

Hereinafter, the operation of the recording apparatus 30 will beexplained. The first recording device 31 records the record data intothe data area on the write-once-type recording medium. On the otherhand, if the defect management information including the defect list,which indicates the position of a defect on the write-once-typerecording medium or the like, is generated, the memory device 32 storesthe defect management information. The second recording device 33records the defect management information stored in the memory device32, into any one of the plurality of temporary defect management areason the recording medium. There may be a variety of times when the secondrecording device 33 records the defect management information into thetemporary defect management area. The conceivable times are, forexample, immediately after the recording medium is initialized orformatted, immediately after a series of record data is recorded ontothe recording medium, and the like. If the second recording device 33records the defect management information into any one of the temporarydefect management areas, the status information generating device 34generates the status information for indicating the recording status ofone portion or each of the temporary defect management areas at thepresent time point. Moreover, the third recording device 35 records thestatus information into the status information recording area on therecording medium. On the other hand, the fourth recording device 36records the defect management information stored in the memory device32, into the definite defect management area on the recording medium.There may be a variety of times when the fourth recording device 36records the defect management information into the definite defectmanagement area. The conceivable times are, for example, when therecording medium is finalized, and the like.

As described above, according to the recording apparatus 30, it ispossible to realize the defect management and the recording of therecord data, the defect management information, and the statusinformation onto the write-once-type recording medium which has thecompatibility with the general rewritten-type recording medium.Particularly, by generating and recording the status information, it ispossible to realize the quick specification and reading of the lastdefect management information, at the next time of recording andreproduction.

Second Embodiment of Recording Apparatus

The second embodiment of the recording apparatus of the presentinvention will be explained. FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment of therecording apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, arecording apparatus 40 is provided with: the first recording device 31;the memory device 32; the second recording device 33; the statusinformation generating device 34; the third recording device 35; and thefourth recording device 36, as with the recording apparatus 30.Moreover, the recording apparatus 40 is provided with: a finalizingdevice 41; and a recording control device 42.

The finalizing device 41 finalizes the write-once-type recording medium.In general, the finalizing is processing including an operation ofarranging (or organizing) a recording format on the recording medium,after the recording of the record data onto the recording medium iscompleted. In general, the finalizing is performed in the case where therewritten-type recording medium is made adapted to the recording formatof a reproduce-only-type recording medium, or in a similar case. Thefinalizing on the recording apparatus 40 is processing to adapt thewrite-once-type recording medium to the recording format of therewritten-type recording medium or the reproduce-only-type recordingmedium.

The recording control device 42 controls the second recording device 33to record the defect management information into any one of theplurality of temporary defect management areas before thewrite-once-type recording medium is finalized, and controls the fourthrecording device 36 to record the defect management information into thedefinite defect management area if the write-once-type recording mediumis finalized by the finalizing device 41.

As described above, according to the recording apparatus 40, it ispossible to record the defect management information into any one of theplurality of temporary defect management areas if the write-once-typerecording medium is before the finalize, and it is possible to recordthe defect management information into the definite defect managementarea if the write-once-type recording medium is finalized by thefinalizing device 41. By this, it is possible to establish thecompatibility between the write-once-type recording medium and thegeneral rewritten-type recording medium, with regard to the defectmanagement information, if the write-once-type recording medium isfinalized.

First Embodiment of Reproducing Apparatus

The first embodiment of the reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention will be explained. FIG. 7 shows the first embodiment of thereproducing apparatus of the present invention. A reproducing apparatus50 shown in FIG. 7 is an apparatus for reproducing record data recordedon a write-once-type recording medium provided with: (i) a data area torecord therein the record data; (ii) a control information recordingarea to record therein information for controlling an operation ofrecording and/or reading in the data area, the control informationrecording area including a definite defect management area to recordtherein defect management information of the data area; (iii) aplurality of temporary defect management areas to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of the data area; and (iv) astatus information recording area in which status information forindicating a recording status of one portion or each of the plurality oftemporary defect management areas. For example, the reproducingapparatus 50 is an apparatus for reproducing the record data recorded onthe above-described write-once-type recording medium 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the reproducing apparatus 50 is provided with: afirst reading device 51; an area recognizing device 52; a second readingdevice 53; and a reproducing device 54.

The first reading device 51 reads the status information recorded in thestatus information recording area on the recording medium. If therecording medium is an optical disc, the first reading device 51 can berealized by an optical pickup, a controller for controlling the opticalpickup, and the like. Incidentally, the specific hardware structure ofthe first reading device 51 can be arbitrarily selected, depending on arecording method (light, magnetism, magneto-optics, phase-change,polarization direction of a dielectric substance, near-field light, orthe like) adopted by the recording medium. For example, it may be amagnetic head or a probe.

The area recognizing device 52 recognizes one temporary defectmanagement area in which the defect management information recorded atlast in time (i.e. the last defect management information) is recorded,on the basis of the status information read by the first reading device51.

For example, if the status information includes information forindicating the one temporary defect management area in which the defectmanagement information recorded at last in time (i.e. the last defectmanagement information) is recorded, out of the defect managementinformation recorded in one portion or all of the plurality of temporarydefect management areas, the area recognizing device 52 recognizes theone temporary defect management area which includes the last defectmanagement information, on the basis of this information for indicatingthe one temporary defect management area.

Moreover, if the status information includes information for indicatingthe presence or absence of an unrecorded area in one portion or each ofthe plurality of temporary defect management areas, the area recognizingdevice 52 recognizes the one temporary defect management area whichincludes the last defect management information, on the basis of thisinformation indicating the presence or absence.

The second reading device 53 reads the defect management informationrecorded in the one temporary defect management area specified by thearea recognizing device 52. The specific hardware structure of thesecond reading device 53 may be the same as that of the first readingdevice 51.

The reproducing device 54 reproduces the record data recorded in thedata area, on the basis of the defect management information read by thesecond reading device 53. The reproducing device 54 is provided with arecord data reading device for reading the record data recorded in thedata area. The specific hardware structure of the record data readingdevice may be the same as that of the first reading device 51. Moreover,if the record data is image data, the reproducing device 54 is providedwith a decoder for converting the image data to an image signal whichcan be displayed on a display.

Hereinafter, the operation of the reproducing apparatus 50 will beexplained. For example, if the write-once-type recording medium on whichthe record data is already recorded and which is not finalized isinserted or mounted on the reproducing apparatus 50, the first readingdevice 51 reads the status information recorded in the statusinformation recording area on the recording medium. Then, the arearecognizing device 52 recognizes one temporary defect management area inwhich the last defect management information is recorded, from among theplurality of temporary defect management areas existing on the recordingmedium, on the basis of the status information read by the first readingdevice 51. Then, the second reading device 53 reads the last defectmanagement information recorded in the one temporary defect managementarea. Then, the reproducing device 54 reads and reproduces the recorddata recorded in the data area on the recording medium, while theperforming the defect management on the basis of the last defectmanagement information.

As described above, according to the reproducing apparatus 50, it canquickly specify and quickly read the last defect management information,on the basis of the status information. By this, it is possible toquickly perform the defect management processing and the reproductionprocessing.

Second Embodiment of Reproducing Apparatus

The second embodiment of the reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention will be explained. FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment of thereproducing apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, a reproducing apparatus 60 is provided with: thefirst reading device 51; the area recognizing device 52; the secondreading device 53; and the reproducing device 54, as with thereproducing apparatus 50. Moreover, the reproducing apparatus 60 isprovided with: a finalize detecting device 61; a third reading device62; and a reading control device 63.

The finalize detecting device 61 detects whether or not thewrite-once-type recording medium is already finalized. It is possible todetect whether or not the write-once-type recording medium is alreadyfinalized, by referring to the information recorded in the controlinformation recording area or the like on the write-once-type recordingmedium, for example.

The third reading device 62 reads the defect management informationrecorded in the definite defect management area. The specific hardwarestructure of the third reading device 62 may be the same as that of thefirst reading device 51.

The reading control device 63 controls the third reading device 62 toread the defect management information recorded in the definite defectmanagement area if the write-once-type recording medium is alreadyfinalized, and controls the second reading device 53 to read the defectmanagement information recorded in the one temporary defect managementarea in which the last defect management information is recorded if thewrite-once-type recording medium is not finalized, on the basis of adetection result by the finalize detecting device 61.

As described above, according to the reproducing apparatus 60, it ispossible to read the defect management information recorded in thedefinite defect management area if the write-once-type recording mediumis already finalized, and it is possible to read the last defectmanagement information recorded in any one of the temporary defectmanagement areas if the write-once-type recording medium is notfinalized. By this, it is possible to always read the newest defectmanagement information and perform the defect management on the basis ofthe newest defect management information.

Incidentally, the embodiments described above may be realized in anintegral form with hardware as an exclusive apparatus or may be realizedby making a computer read a program.

Embodiment of Recording Method

The embodiment of the recording method of the present invention will beexplained. The recording method is a method of recording record dataonto a write-once-type recording medium provided with: (i) a data areato record therein the record data; (ii) a control information recordingarea to record therein information for controlling an operation ofrecording and/or reading in the data area, the control informationrecording area including a definite defect management area to recordtherein defect management information of the data area; (iii) aplurality of temporary defect management areas to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of the data area; and (iv) astatus information recording area in which status information forindicating a recording status of one portion or each of the plurality oftemporary defect management areas. For example, the recording method inthe embodiment of the present invention is a method of recording therecord data onto the above-described recording medium 10.

The recording method in the embodiment of the present invention isprovided with: a first recording process of recording the record datainto the data area; a defect management information generating processof generating or updating the defect management information; a secondrecording process of recording the defect management informationgenerated or updated in the defect management information generatingprocess, into any one of the plurality of temporary defect managementareas; a status information generating process of generating the statusinformation for indicating the recording status of one portion or eachof the plurality of temporary defect management areas; a third recordingprocess of recording the status information generated in the statusinformation generating process, into the status information recordingarea; a finalizing process of finalizing the write-once-type recordingmedium; and a fourth recording process of recording the defectmanagement information generated or updated in the defect managementinformation generating process, into the definite defect managementarea, if the finalizing is performed in the finalizing process.

In the recording method, at a stage before the recording medium isfinalized, the defect management information is recorded any one of theplurality of temporary defect management areas. Then, the statusinformation for indicating the recording status of one portion or eachof the plurality of temporary defect management areas at the presentstage, is generated. Then, the status information is recorded into thestatus information recording area. By this, next time when the recordingor the reproduction is performed with respect to the recording medium,it is possible to quickly specify and quickly read the last defectmanagement information, on the basis of the status information recordedon the recording medium.

Embodiment of Reproducing Method

The embodiment of the reproducing method of the present invention willbe explained. The reproducing method is a method of reproducing recorddata recorded on a write-once-type recording medium provided with: (i) adata area to record therein the record data; (ii) a control informationrecording area to record therein information for controlling anoperation of recording and/or reading in the data area, the controlinformation recording area including a definite defect management areato record therein defect management information of the data area; (iii)a plurality of temporary defect management areas to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of the data area; and (iv) astatus information recording area in which status information forindicating a recording status of one portion or each of the plurality oftemporary defect management areas. For example, the reproducing methodin the embodiment of the present invention is a method of reproducingthe record data recorded on the above-described recording medium 10.

The reproducing method in the embodiment of the present invention isprovided with: a finalize detecting process of detecting whether or notthe write-once-type recording medium is already finalized; a firstreading process of reading the defect management information recorded inthe definite defect management area and of storing the defect managementinformation into a memory device, if the write-once-type recordingmedium is already finalized; a second reading process of reading thestatus information recorded in the status information recording area, ifthe write-once-type recording medium is not finalized; an arearecognizing process of specifying one temporary defect management areain which the defect management information recorded at last in time isrecorded, on the basis of the status information read in the firstreading process; a third reading process of reading the defectmanagement information recorded in the one temporary defect managementarea recognized in the area recognizing process; and a reproducingprocess of reproducing the record data recorded in the data area, on thebasis of the defect management information read in the third readingprocess.

In the reproducing method, the status information is read if therecording medium is not finalized, and the one temporary defectmanagement area in which the last defect management information isrecorded is recognized on the basis of the status information. Then, thelast defect management information recorded in the one temporary defectmanagement area is read. Then, the record data is reproduced, on thebasis of the last defect management information. According to therecording method, it is possible to recognize the one temporary defectmanagement area in which the last defect management information isrecorded, from among the plurality of temporary defect management areasexisting on the recording medium, on the basis of the statusinformation, and it is possible to read the last defect managementinformation.

EXAMPLES First Example of Write-Once-Type Recording Medium)

The first example of the write-once-type recording medium of the presentinvention will be explained. In the first example, the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention is applied to a one-layerwrite-once-type optical disc. FIG. 9 shows the record structure of awrite-once-type optical disc 100. The upper left side of FIG. 9 is theinner circumferential side of the optical disc 100, and the lower rightside is the outer circumferential side of the optical disc 100.

As shown in FIG. 9, the optical disc 100 is provided with: a user dataarea 101; spare areas 102A and 102B; a lead-in area 103; a lead-out area104; a definite defect management area 105; temporary defect managementareas 106A, 106B, and 106C; and a status information recording area 107.

The user data area 101, and the spare areas 102A and 102B are intendedto record therein the record data. The user data area 101 is a main areato record therein the record data. The spare areas 102A and 102B areintended to evacuate the record data thereto from a defect in the userdata area 101. Namely, if there is a defect in the user data area 101,the record data to be recorded or already recorded at the position ofthe defect is recorded into the spare area 102A or 102B. The spare area102A is placed on the inner circumferential side of the user data area101, and the spare area 102B is placed on the outer circumferential sideof the user data area 101. A data zone 108 is formed from the user dataarea 101 and the spare areas 102A and 102B.

The lead-in area 103 and the lead-out area 104 are intended to recordtherein the control information. The lead-in area 103 is placed on themost inner circumferential side of the optical disc 100. The lead-outarea 105 is placed on the most outer circumferential side of the opticaldisc 100.

The definite defect management area 105 is intended to definitely recordtherein the defect management information. When the optical disc 100 isfinalized, the defect management information is recorded into thedefinite defect management area 105. The definite defect management area105 is placed in the lead-in area 103.

The temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C are intendedto temporarily record therein the defect management information. At astage before the optical disc 100 is finalized, the defect managementinformation is recorded into any one of the temporary defect managementareas 106A, 106B, and 106C. There are three temporary defect managementareas on the optical disc 100. The first temporary defect managementarea 106A is placed in the lead-in area 103. The second temporary defectmanagement area 106B is placed between the lead-in area 103 and the datazone 108. The third temporary defect management area 106C is placedbetween the data zone 108 and the lead-out area 104.

The status information recording area 107 is intended to record thereinthe status information. The status information recording area 107 isplaced in the lead-in area 103.

As described above, according to the optical disc 100, the definitedefect management area 105 is placed in the lead-in are 103. By this, itis possible to provide the compatibility between the optical disc 100and the general rewritten-type recording medium, and at the same time,it is possible to realize the defect management for the optical disc100.

Moreover, the temporary defect management area 106B is placed betweenthe lead-in are 103 and the data zone 108, and the temporary defectmanagement area 106C is placed between the data zone 108 and thelead-out area 104. Thus, it is possible to provide the compatibilitybetween the optical disc 100 and the general rewritten-type recordingmedium, and at the same time, it is possible to provide the relativelylarge temporary defect management area. By this, it is possible toincrease the number of times that the defect management information canbe updated.

Moreover, the temporary defect management area is divided into the threetemporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C, and they aredistributed and placed on the optical disc 100. Thus, it is possible toprovide the temporary defect management areas having a relatively largeareal size, without greatly change the existing record structure as forthe optical disc. By this, it is possible to increase the number oftimes that the defect management information can be updated.

Incidentally, the number of the temporary defect management areas is notlimited to three; it may be two, and it maybe four or more. Moreover,there is no limitation on the arrangement of the temporary defectmanagement areas. Furthermore, the temporary defect management area maybe placed on the outer circumferential side of the lead-out area.

Second Example of Write-Once-Type Recording Medium

The second example of the write-once-type recording medium of thepresent invention will be explained. In the second example, thewrite-once-type recording medium of the present invention is applied toa two-layer write-once-type optical disc. FIG. 10 shows the recordstructure of a write-once-type optical disc 120. The left side of FIG.10 is the inner circumferential side of the optical disc 120, and theright side is the outer circumferential side of the optical disc 120.

As shown in FIG. 10, a first layer of the optical disc 120 is providedwith: a user data area 121; spare areas 122A and 122A; a lead-in area123; a lead-out area 124; a definite defect management area 125;temporary defect management areas 126A, 126B, and 126C; and a statusinformation recording area 127. A data zone 128 is formed from the userdata area 121 and the spare areas 122A and 122B. A second layer of theoptical disc 120 is provided with: a user data area 131; spare areas132A and 132B; and temporary defect management areas 136A and 136B. Adata zone 138 is formed from the user data area 131 and the spare areas132A and 132B.

Even by virtue of the optical disc 120 having such a structure, it ispossible to achieve the same operational effect as in the optical disc100.

Example of Defect Management Information

The example of the defect management information of the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 11shows the defect management information for the optical disc 100. Asshown in FIG. 11, defect management information 140 includes settinginformation 141 and a defect list 142. The setting information 141includes: the start address of the user data area 101; the end addressof the user data area 101; the size of the inner spare area 102A; thesize of the outer spare area 102B; and other information.

The position and size of the user data area 101 on the optical disc 100are determined on the basis of the setting information 141. Moreover,the size and position of each of the spare areas 102A and 102B are alsodetermined on the basis of the setting information 141. The settinginformation 141 is generated by a recording/reproducing apparatus at thetime of initializing the optical disc 100, and recorded onto the opticaldisc 100, as one portion of the defect management information 140.Therefore, the position and size of the data zone 108 can be arbitrarilyset by the recording/reproducing apparatus. For example, by adjustingthe start address of the user data area 101, or the size of the sparearea 102A, it is possible to form an area between the lead-in area 103and the data zone 108, and use the area as the temporary defectmanagement area 106B.

FIG. 12 shows the content of the defect list 142. As shown in FIG. 12,on the defect list 142, there are recorded an address for indicating theposition of a defect in the user data area 101 (which is hereinafterreferred to as a “defect address”), an address for indicating therecording position in the partial spare area 102A or 102B of the recorddata to be recorded or already recorded at the position of the defect(which is hereinafter referred to as a “spare address” (i.e. “sparerecording address”)); and other information. If there are a plurality ofdefects in the user data area 101, a plurality of defect addressescorresponding to the defects and a plurality of spare addresses arerecorded onto the defect list 142. If the record data recorded on theoptical disc 100 is reproduced, the recording/reproducing apparatusrefers to the defect address and the spare address of the defect list142. By referring to the defect list 142, it is possible to follow alocus or path of the recording of the record data which is recorded awayfrom the defect, and it is possible to certainly reproduce the recorddata.

First Example of Status Information

The first example of the status information of the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 13shows the first example of the status information for the optical disc100. Status information 150 shown in FIG. 13 indicates the recordingstatuses of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C.The status information 150 includes: information for indicating thestart address of each of the temporary defect management areas 106A,106B, and 106C; information for indicating the areal size of each ofthem; and a last defect management information flag. Incidentally, it isalso possible to replace the information for indicating the areal sizeof each of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C,by information for indicating the end address of each of the temporarydefect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C.

The last defect management information flag indicates the temporarydefect management area in which the last defect management informationis recorded, out of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B,and 106C. The last defect management information flag is 3 bit data. Thebit 0 of the last defect management information flag corresponds to thetemporary defect management area 106A. The bit 1 thereof corresponds tothe temporary defect management area 106B. The bit 2 thereof correspondsto the temporary defect management area 106C.

In the last defect management information flag, if the bit is “0”, thatmeans there is no last defect management information in the temporarydefect management area corresponding to the bit. If the bit is “1”, thatmeans there is the last defect management information in the temporarydefect management area corresponding to the bit. Incidentally, the lastdefect management information is the defect management informationrecorded at last in time, out of the defect management informationrecorded in one portion or all of the plurality of temporary defectmanagement areas, as described above.

Hereinafter, the function of the status information 150 will beexplained, specifically. FIG. 14 shows a status in which four pieces ofdefect management information are recorded in the temporary defectmanagement area on the optical disc 100 and four pieces of statusinformation are recorded in the status information recording area 107.Incidentally, in FIG. 14, the display of the lead-in area 103, the datazone 108, and the like is omitted, for convenience of explanation.

In FIG. 14, defect management information 140A is the defect managementinformation generated at first. This is recorded at the head of thefirst temporary defect management area 106A. Defect managementinformation 140B is the defect management information updated for thefirst time. This is continuously recorded next to the defect managementinformation 140A. Defect management information 140C is the defectmanagement information updated for the second time. The defectmanagement information 140A is full of the three defect managementinformation, and there is no more unrecorded are in which the defectmanagement information can be recorded. Defect management information140D is the defect management information updated for the third time.This is recorded at the head of the temporary defect management area106B. In FIG. 14, the defect management information 140D is the lastdefect management information.

On the other hand, in FIG. 14, status information 150A is the statusinformation corresponding to the defect management information 140A.This is recorded substantially at the same time of recording the defectmanagement information 140A, and is recorded at the head of the statusinformation recording area 107. Status information 150B is the statusinformation corresponding to the defect management information 140B.This is recorded substantially at the same time of recording the defectmanagement information 140B, and is continuously recorded next to thestatus information 150A. In the same manner, status information 150C isthe status information corresponding to the defect managementinformation 140C, and status information 150D is the status informationcorresponding to the defect management information 140D. In FIG. 14, thestatus information 150D corresponds to the last defect managementinformation 140D. Hereinafter, the status information corresponding tothe last defect management information is referred to as “last statusinformation”.

The status information 150D shown in FIG. 13 shows the recording statusof the optical disc 100 shown in FIG. 14. Namely, the status information150 is the last status information 150D in FIG. 14. In the statusinformation 150 (150D), the bit 1 is “1”, out of the bits of the lastdefect management information flag. This indicates that the last defectmanagement information 140D is recorded in the temporary defectmanagement area 106B corresponding to the bit 1.

When the record data is recorded onto the optical disc 100, or when therecord data recorded on the optical disc 100 is reproduced, therecording/reproducing apparatus reads the defect management informationfrom the optical disc 100, at a preparation stage before starting therecording and the reproduction of the record data. Then, therecording/reproducing apparatus performs the defect management, on thebasis of the read defect management information. Moreover, therecording/reproducing apparatus updates the defect managementinformation on the basis of the read defect management information. Asdescribed above, the defect management information read by therecording/reproducing apparatus at the preparation state of therecording and the reproduction is the basis of the defect management andthe basis of the updating of the defect management information. Thus, itis desirable that the defect management information is the newest defectmanagement information, i.e., the last defect management information, inwhich the status of a defect on the optical disc 100 at the present timepoint is reflected at most. Thus, the recording/reproducing apparatusspecifies and reads the last defect management information, from amongthe plurality of defect management information recorded in the temporarydefect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C on the optical disc 100, atthe preparation stage of the recording and the reproduction. At thistime, the recording/reproducing apparatus refers to the last defectmanagement information flag of the status information 150. By this, therecording/reproducing apparatus can recognize the temporary defectmanagement area in which the last defect management information isrecorded, and can quickly specify the last defect managementinformation. For example, if the recording status of the optical disc100 is as shown in FIG. 14, the recording/reproducing apparatusrecognizes that the bit 1 of the last defect management information flagof the status information 150D is “1”. Then, on the basis of therecognition, the recording/reproducing apparatus searches only thetemporary defect management area 106B. The recording/reproducingapparatus does not search the temporary defect management areas 106A and106C. By this, the recording/reproducing apparatus cam quickly specifythe last defect management information 140D.

Second Example of Status Information

The second example of the status information of the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 15shows the second example of the status information for the optical disc100. Status information 160 shown in FIG. 15 indicates the recordingstatuses of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C.The status information 160 includes: the information for indicating thestart address of each of the temporary defect management areas 106A,106B, and 106C; the information for indicating the areal size of each ofthem; and a full flag.

The full flag indicates the presence or absence of an unrecorded area ineach of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C. Thefull flag is 3 bit data. The bit 0 of the full flag corresponds to thetemporary defect management area 106A. The bit 1 thereof corresponds tothe temporary defect management area 106B. The bit 2 thereof correspondsto the temporary defect management area 106C.

In the full flag, if the bit is “0”, that means there is an unrecordedarea in the temporary defect management area corresponding to the bit.If the bit is “1”, that means there is no unrecorded area in thetemporary defect management area corresponding to the bit.

Hereinafter, the function of the status information 160 will beexplained, specifically, with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. Thestatus information 160 shown in FIG. 15 shows the recording status ofthe optical disc 100 shown in FIG. 14. In the status information 160,the bit 0 is “1”, and the bit 1 and the bit 2 are both “0”, out of thebits of the full flag. This indicates that there is no unrecorded areain the defect management information 140A corresponding to the bit 0,and that there is unrecorded areas in the temporary defect managementareas 106B and 106C. Here, it is assumed that the order of the temporarydefect management areas which are used for the additional recording ofthe defect management information is determined in advance to be 106A.106B. 106C. Namely, it is assumed that the following rule is set inadvance to the recording/reproducing apparatus; i.e., the defectmanagement information is firstly recorded into the temporary defectmanagement area 106A, and then, recorded into the temporary defectmanagement area 106B if the temporary defect management area 106A isfilled up, and then, recorded into the temporary defect management area106C if the temporary defect management area 106B is filled up. Underthis condition, if there is no unrecorded area only in the temporarydefect management area 106A, that means the last defect managementinformation is recorded in the next temporary defect management area106B. Thus, by referring to the status information 160, therecording/reproducing apparatus can recognize the temporary defectmanagement area in which the last defect management information isrecorded, and can quickly specify the last defect managementinformation.

Third Example of Status Information

The third example of the status information of the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 16shows the third example of the status information for the optical disc100. Status information 170 shown in FIG. 16 indicates the recordingstatuses of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C.The status information 170 includes: the information for indicating thestart address of each of the temporary defect management areas 106A,106B, and 106C; the information for indicating the areal size of each ofthem; and a recording status flag.

The recording status flag indicates whether each of the defectmanagement areas 106A, 106B, and 106C is all unrecorded, partiallyrecorded, or all recorded. The recording status flag is 6 bit data. Thebit 0 and the bit 1 of the recording status flag correspond to thetemporary defect management area 106A. The bit 2 and the bit 3 thereofcorrespond to the temporary defect management area 106B. The bit 4 andthe bit 5 thereof correspond to the temporary defect management area106C. As described above, in the recording status flag, 2 bitcorresponds to one temporary defect management area. Hereinafter, the 2bit corresponding to one temporary defect management area is referred toa “bit unit”.

In the recording status flag, if the bit unit is “00”, that means thetemporary defect management area corresponding to the bit unit is allunrecorded. If the bit unit is “01”, that means the temporary defectmanagement area corresponding to the bit unit is partially recorded. Ifthe bit unit is “10”, that means the temporary defect management areacorresponding to the bit unit is all recorded.

Hereinafter, the function of the status information 170 will beexplained, specifically. FIG. 17 shows a status in which four pieces ofdefect management information are recorded in the temporary defectmanagement area on the optical disc 100 and four pieces of statusinformation are recorded in the status information recording area 107.

In FIG. 17, the defect management information 140A generated at first,the defect management information 140B updated for the first time, andthe defect management information 140C updated for the second time, arerecorded in the defect management area 106A. Moreover, the defectmanagement information 140D updated for the third time is recorded inthe temporary defect management area 106C. On the other hand, statusinformation 170A to 170D corresponding to the defect managementinformation 140A to 140D, respectively, are recorded in the statusinformation recording area 107. In FIG. 17, the defect managementinformation 140D is the last defect management information, and thestatus information 170D is the last status information.

The status information 170 shown in FIG. 16 shows the recording statusof the optical disc 100 shown in FIG. 17. Namely, the status information170 is the last status information 170D in FIG. 17. In the statusinformation 170 (170D), the bit unit provided with the bit 4 and the bit5 is “01”, out of the bit units of the recording status flag. Thisindicates that the temporary defect management area 106C correspondingto the bit unit is partially recorded, and that the temporary defectmanagement area 106C is in use now. This means that the last defectmanagement information 140D is recorded in the temporary defectmanagement area 106C. Thus, by referring to the status information 170,the recording/reproducing apparatus can recognize the temporary defectmanagement area in which the last defect management information 140D isrecorded, and can quickly specify the last defect management information140D.

Fourth Example of Status Information

The fourth example of the status information of the write-once-typerecording medium of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 18shows the fourth example of the status information for the optical disc100. Status information 180 shown in FIG. 18 indicates the recordingstatuses of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C.The status information 180 includes: the information for indicating thestart address of each of the temporary defect management areas 106A,106B, and 106C; the information for indicating the areal size of each ofthem; and a use status flag.

The use status flag indicates whether each of the defect managementareas 106A, 106B, and 106C is active or inactive. If it is active, theuse status flag also indicates whether or not each of the defectmanagement areas 106A, 106B, and 106C is in use. Incidentally, the“active” indicates a status in which the use of the temporary defectmanagement area is predetermined or scheduled, allowed, or can beperformed. The “inactive” indicates a status in which the use of thetemporary defect management area is not predetermined, not allowed, orcan not be performed. For example, if the temporary defect managementarea 106C is used for another application, the temporary defectmanagement area 106C is made inactive.

The use status flag is 6 bit data. The bit 0 and the bit 1 of the usestatus flag correspond to the temporary defect management area 106A. Thebit 2 and the bit 3 thereof correspond to the temporary defectmanagement area 106B. The bit 4 and the bit 5 thereof correspond to thetemporary defect management area 106C. As described above, in the usestatus flag, 2 bit corresponds to one temporary defect management area.Hereinafter, the 2 bit corresponding to one temporary defect managementarea is referred to a “bit unit”.

In the use status flag, if the bit unit is “00”, that means thetemporary defect management area corresponding to the bit unit isactive, and is not in use now. If the bit unit is “01”, that means thetemporary defect management area corresponding to the bit unit isactive, and in use now. If the bit unit is “10”, that means the wholetemporary defect management area corresponding to the bit unit isinactive.

Hereinafter, the function of the status information 180 will beexplained, specifically. FIG. 19 shows a status in which four pieces ofdefect management information are recorded in the temporary defectmanagement area on the optical disc 100 and four pieces of statusinformation are recorded in the status information recording area 107.

In FIG. 19, the defect management information 140A generated at first,the defect management information 140B updated for the first time, andthe defect management information 140C updated for the second time, arerecorded in the defect management area 106A. Moreover, the defectmanagement information 140D updated for the third time is recorded inthe temporary defect management area 106B. On the other hand, statusinformation 180A to 180D corresponding to the defect managementinformation 140A to 140D, respectively, are recorded in the statusinformation recording area 107. In FIG. 19, the defect managementinformation 140D is the last defect management information, and thestatus information 180D is the last status information.

The status information 180 shown in FIG. 18 shows the recording statusof the optical disc 100 shown in FIG. 19. Namely, the status information180 is the last status information 180D in FIG. 19. In the statusinformation 180 (180D), the bit unit provided with the bit 2 and the bit3 is “01”, out of the bit units of the use status flag. This indicatesthat the temporary defect management area 106B corresponding to the bitunit is active, and in use now. This means that the last defectmanagement information 140D is recorded in the temporary defectmanagement area 106B. Thus, by referring to the status information 180,the recording/reproducing apparatus can recognize the temporary defectmanagement area in which the last defect management information 140D isrecorded, and can quickly specify the last defect management information140D.

Example of Recording Apparatus Reproducing Apparatus

The example of the recording apparatus and the reproducing apparatus ofthe present invention will be explained. FIG. 20 shows the example ofthe recording apparatus and the reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention. A recording/reproducing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 20 isprovided with: a function as a recording apparatus of recording therecord data onto the optical disc 100; and a function as a reproducingapparatus of reproducing the record data recorded on the optical disc100.

At first, the structure of the recording/reproducing apparatus 200 willbe explained. As shown in FIG. 20, the recording/reproducing apparatus200 is provided with: a disc drive 300; and a backend 400.

FIG. 21 shows the inner structure of the disc drive 300. The disc drive300 records information onto the optical disc 100 and reads theinformation recorded on the optical disc 100.

As shown in FIG. 21, the disc drive 300 is provided with: a spindlemotor 351; an optical pickup 352; a Radio Frequency (RF) amplifier 353;and a servo circuit 354.

The spindle motor 351 is a motor for rotating the optical disc 100.

The optical pickup 352 records the record data or the like onto therecording surface of the optical disc 100 by irradiating the recordingsurface with a light bean, and reads the record data or the likerecorded on the recording surface by receiving reflected light of thelight beam. The optical pickup 352 outputs a RF signal corresponding tothe reflected light of the light beam.

The RF amplifier 353 amplifies the RF signal outputted from the opticalpickup 352 and outputs it to a Coder/Decoder (CODEC) 355. Moreover, theRF amplifier 353 generates, from the RF signal, a wobble frequencysignal WF, a track error signal TE, and a focus error signal FE, andoutputs them.

The servo circuit 354 is a servo control circuit for controlling thedriving of the optical pickup 352 and the spindle motor 351 on the basisof the track error signal TE, the focus error signal FE, and other servocontrol signals.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 21, the disc drive 300 is provided with: theCODEC 355; a buffer 356; an interface 357; and a light beam drivingdevice 358.

The CODEC 355 is a circuit, provided with: a function of performing anerror correction for the record data upon reading; and a function ofappending an error correction code or mark to the record data uponrecording so as to modulate the record data. Specifically, upon reading,the CODEC 355 demodulates and decodes the RF signal outputted from theRF amplifier 353, performs an error correction for the decoded RFsignal, and then outputs this to the buffer 356. Moreover, if the errorcorrection is impossible as a result of performing the error correctionfor the decoded RF signal, the CODEC 355 generates anerror-correction-impossible signal for indicating that, and outputs thissignal to a defect detector 359. Upon recording, the CODEC 355 appendsthe error correction code to the record data outputted from the buffer356, modulates this data to have a code suited to the opticalcharacteristics or the like of the optical disc 100, and then outputsthe modulated record data to the light beam driving device 358.

The buffer 356 is a memory circuit for storing the record datatemporarily.

The interface 357 is a circuit for controlling the input/output orcommunication of the record data or the like between the disc drive 300and the backend 400. Specifically, upon reproducing, the interface 357responds a request command from the backend 400, and outputs the recorddata outputted from the buffer 356 (i.e. the record data read from theoptical disc 100) to the backend 400. Upon recording, the interface 357receives the record data which is inputted from the backend 400 to thedisc drive 300, and outputs this data to the buffer 356. The interface357 responds the request command from the backend 400 and outputs all orpart of the defect lists maintained in a generator 360 for generatingDefect Management Information (DMI generator 360) to the backend 400.

Upon recording, the light beam driving device 358 generates a light beamdriving signal corresponding to the record data outputted from the CODEC355 and outputs this signal to the optical pickup 352. The opticalpickup 352 modulates a light beam on the basis of the light beam drivingsignal, and irradiates the recording surface of the optical disc 100with it. This causes the recording of the record data or the like ontothe recording surface.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 21, the disc drive 300 is provided with: thedefect detector 359; and the DMI generator 360.

The defect detector 359 is a circuit for detecting a defect on theoptical disc 100. The defect detector 359 generates a defect detectionsignal for indicating the presence or absence of a defect, and outputsthis signal. The defect detector 359 detects a defect on the basis ofthe result of the error correction of the record data upon readinginformation (upon verifying or reproducing). As described above, if theerror correction is impossible as a result of performing the errorcorrection for the decoded RF signal, the CODEC 355 generates the errorcorrection impossible signal for indicating the fact, and outputs thissignal to the defect detector 359. The defect detector 359 outputs t hedefect detection signal for indicating the presence of a defect whenreceiving this error correction impossible signal.

The DMI generator 360 is a circuit for generating or updating the defectmanagement information 140 on the basis of the defect detection signaloutputted from the defect detector 359. The defect managementinformation 140 is rewritably stored into a memory circuit placed in theDMI generator 360. The DMI generator 360 responds to the request commandfrom the backend 400 and outputs the defect management information 140to the backend 400 through the interface 357.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 21, the disc drive 300 has a CentralProcessing Unit (CPU) 361. The CPU 361 controls the disc drive 300 as awhole, and controls the exchange of information among the elements inthe disc drive 300 described above. The CPU 361 also controls therecording operation and reading operation of the record data and thedefect management information 140. The CPU 361 responds to the controlcommand or the request commend transmitted from the backend 400, andcontrols the exchange of data between the disc drive 300 and the backend400. Moreover, the CPU 361 generates the status information.

Next, FIG. 22 shows the inner structure of the backend 400. The backend400 is an apparatus for performing reproduction processing with respectto the record data read by the disc drive 300 from the optical disc 100,receiving the record data supplied from the outside in order to recordit onto the optical disc 100, compressing (and encoding) this recorddata, and transmitting it to the disc drive 300.

The backend 400 is provided with: a drive controller 471; a videodecoder 472; an audio decoder 473; a video encoder 474; an audio encoder475; a system controller 476; and a defect management device 477.

The drive controller 471 is a circuit for controlling the readingprocessing and recording processing of the disc drive 300. The backend400 and the disc drive 300 cooperate and perform an operation of readingthe record data from the optical disc 100 and reproducing it and anoperation of receiving the record data from the outside and recording itonto the optical disc 100. The drive controller 471 realizes thecooperation of the backend 400 and the disc drive 300 by controlling thereading processing and recording processing of the disc drive 300.Specifically, the drive controller 471 outputs to the disc drive 300request commands about reading, recording, outputting the record datafrom the buffer 356, outputting the defect management information 140from the DMI generator 360, and so on. The drive controller 471 alsocontrols the input and output of the record data, the defect managementinformation 140, and other various information.

The video decoder 472 and the audio decoder 473 are circuits fordecoding the record data which is read from the optical disc 100 by thedisc drive 300 and which is supplied through the drive controller 471,and converting the record data to be reproducible with a display, aspeaker, or the like.

The video encoder 474 and the audio encoder 475 are circuit forreceiving a video signal, an audio signal, or the like, inputted fromthe outside for the purpose of recording them on the optical disc 100,compressing and encoding them by Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)compressing and encoding method or the like, and supplying them to thedisc drive 300 through the drive controller 471.

The system controller 476 is a circuit for controlling: the drivecontroller 471; the video decoder 472; the audio decoder 473; and thedefect management device 477, and performing the reproduction processingof the record data in cooperation with the devices, upon reproducing.Upon recording, the system controller 476 controls: the drive controller471; the video encoder 474; the audio encoder 475; and the defectmanagement device 477, to thereby record the record data in cooperationwith the devices. Upon reproducing and recording, the system controller476 controls the disc drive 300 (e.g. controls the generation andtransmission of various request commands, the reception of a responsesignal, or the like) with the drive controller 471 in order to realizethe cooperation of the disc drive 300 and the backend 400.

The defect management device 477 has therein a memory circuit, and has afunction of receiving and maintaining all or part of the defectmanagement information 140 generated or updated by the DMI generator 360in the disc drive 300. The defect management device 477 performs thedefect management with the system controller 476.

Next, the initial setting processing of the recording/reproducingapparatus 200 will be explained. FIG. 23 shows the initial setting ofthe recording/reproducing apparatus 200. The recording/reproducingapparatus 200 performs the initial setting between (i) when the opticaldisc 100 is inserted or loaded in the drive unit 300 and (ii) when therecord data is recorded or reproduced (at the preparation stage of therecording and the reproduction). The initial setting is processing forpreparing for the recording or the reproduction of the record data, andincludes various processing. Out of the various processing, theinitialization of the optical disc 100, the generation and the recordingof the defect management information 140, the generation and therecording of the status information, the transmission of the defectmanagement information 140 to the backend 400., or the like will beexplained below. The processing is performed mainly under the control ofthe CPU 361 of the drive unit 300.

As shown in FIG. 23, when the optical disc 100 is inserted or loadedinto the drive unit 300, the CPU 361 of the drive unit 300 judgeswhether or not the optical disc 100 is an unrecorded disc (i.e. a blankdisc) (step S11).

If the optical disc 100 is a blank disc (the step S11: YES), the CPU 361initializes the optical disc 100 (step S12). In this initializing, theDMI generator 360 generates the defect management information 140 (stepS13). Specifically, it obtains the start address and end address of theuser data area 101 and the areal sizes of the spare areas 102A and 102B,which are set in the initializing, and generates the setting information141. Moreover, it generates the defect list 142. The defect list 142generated at this time has only an outline or frame, not having anycontent. Namely, the defect address is not recorded in it, nor is thespecific spare address. A header, identification or discriminationinformation, or the like are only recorded. The generated defectmanagement information 140 is stored and maintained in the DMI generator360.

Then, the CPU 361 transmits the defect management information 140 storedin the DMI generator 360, to the backend 400 (step S14). The defectmanagement information 140 is stored into the defect management device477 of the backend 400.

Then, the CPU 361 records the defect management information 140 storedin the DMI generator 360, into the temporary defect management area 106Aon the optical disc 100 (step S15).

Then, the CPU 361 generates the status information 150 (step S16). Inthe step S15, the defect management information 140 is recorded in thetemporary defect management area 106A, so that the bit 0 of the lastdefect management information flag is set to “1”, and the bit 1 and thebit 2 thereof are individually set to “0”.

Then, the CPU 361 records the status information 150 into the statusinformation recording area 107 on the optical disc 100 (step S17).

On the other hand, if the optical disc 100 is not a blank disc (the stepS11: NO), then, the CPU 361 judges whether or not the optical disc 100is already finalized (step S18).

If the optical disc 100 is not finalized (the step S18: NO), the CPU 361performs the reading processing of the last defect managementinformation 140 recorded on the optical disc 100, on the basis of thestatus information. Namely, if the optical disc 100 is not a blank disc,one or several pieces of defect management information which are alreadygenerated in the past are recorded in the temporary defect managementareas 106A, 106B, and 106C. Thus, the CPU 361 specifies and reads thelast defect management information, from among the one or several piecesof defect management information which are recorded in the temporarydefect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C, on the basis of the statusinformation.

Specifically, at first, the CPU 361 specifies and reads the last statusinformation, from among the status information 150 recorded in thestatus information recording area on the optical disc 100 (step S19).

Then, the CPU 361 refers to the last defect management information flagincluded in the read status information 150, recognizes the temporarydefect management area in which the last defect management informationis recorded, and specifies the last defect management information (stepS20).

Then, the CPU 361 reads the last defect management information 140 (stepS21).

Then, the CPU 361 stores the read defect management information 140 intothe DMI generator 360, and transmits this information to the backend 400(step S22). The defect management information 140 is stored into thedefect management device 477 of the backend 400.

On the other hand, if the optical disc 100 is not a blank disc but isalready finalized (the step S18: YES), the CPU 361 reads the defectmanagement information 140 from the definite defect management area 105(step S23), and transmits this information to the backend 400 (stepS24). The defect management information 140 is stored into the defectmanagement device 477 of the backend 400.

By virtue of the initial setting described above, the defect managementinformation 140 is stored into the DMI generator 360 of the disc drive300, and is stored into the defect management device 477 of the backend400. By this, the preparation for the updating of the defect managementinformation 140 is completed on DMI generator 360. On the other hand,the preparation for the defect management is completed on the defectmanagement device 477.

Next, the recording processing of the recording/reproducing apparatus200 will be explained. FIG. 24 mainly shows the recording processing ofthe recording/reproducing apparatus 200. The recording/reproducingapparatus 200 performs the recording processing of recording the recorddata into the user data area 101 on the optical disc 100. Therecording/reproducing apparatus 200 performs verifying during therecording processing, and updates the defect list 142 on the basis ofthe result of the verifying. The recording processing is realized by thecooperation of the CPU 361 of the disc drive 300 and the systemcontroller 476 of the backend 400.

As shown in FIG. 24, if a user inputs an instruction of starting torecord (step S33: YES), the recording/reproducing apparatus 200 respondsto this and records the record data (step S34). The record data isrecorded into each predetermined block.

The recording/reproducing apparatus 200 performs verifying at each timeof the one block recording (step S35), and updates the defect managementlist 142 stored in the DMI generator 360, on the basis of the result ofthe verifying. Specifically, if it is recognized, as a result of theverifying, that the record data fails to be recorded (step S36: YES),the CPU 361 records the record data that fails to be recorded, into thespare area 102A or 102B (step S37). Then, the CPU 361 estimates thatthere is a defect in a place in which the record data is supposed to berecorded, and records the defect address for indicating the place andthe corresponding spare address onto the defect list 142 (step S38).

When the processing in the above-described steps S34 to S38 ends withrespect to a series of blocks of the record data to be recorded thistime, the CPU 361 additionally records the updated defect managementinformation 140 (i.e. the defect management information 140 includingthe updated defect list 142) into any one of the temporary defectmanagement areas 106A, 106B, and 106C on the optical disc 100 (stepS40). At this time, the updated defect management information 140 isrecorded next to the previously recorded defect management information.Incidentally, if there is no unrecorded are in the temporary defectmanagement area that has the previously recorded defect managementinformation, the updated defect management information 140 is recordedinto another unrecorded temporary defect management area. In determininga place into which the updated defect management information 140 is tobe recorded, it is also possible to use the status information read inthe step S19 in FIG. 23.

Then, the CPU 361 generates the status information 150 (step S41). Sincethe updated defect management information 140 is additionally recordedin any one of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106Con the optical disc 100, the recording statuses of the temporary defectmanagement areas 106A, 106B, and 106C are changed. Specifically, thedefect management information 140 which is updated and additionallyrecorded this time becomes the new last defect management information.Thus, the CPU 361 generates (or updates) the status information 150, inorder to reflect such a change of the recording status. The CPU 361recognizes the temporary defect management area in which the defectmanagement information 140 is additionally recorded in the step S40, sothat the CPU 361 can generate the status information 150, on the basisof the recognition.

Then, the CPU 361 additionally records the new status information 150,into the status information recording area 107 on the optical disc 100(step S42). The new status information is additionally recorded next tothe previously recorded status information, continuously. Then, therecording processing is completed.

Next, the finalize processing of the recording/reproducing apparatus 200will be explained. FIG. 25 shows the finalize processing of therecording/reproducing apparatus 200. For example, if the user inputs aninstruction for indicating to finalize (the step S31 in FIG. 24: YES),the recording/reproducing apparatus 200 confirms that the optical disc100 is not finalized yet (step S51: NO) and finalizes the optical disc100 (step S52). Upon finalizing, the recording/reproducing apparatus 200records the defect management information 140 stored in the DMIgenerator 360, into the definite defect management area 105 on theoptical disc 100 (step S53). Then, the finalizing is completed.

Next, the reproduction processing of the recording/reproducing apparatus200 will be explained. FIG. 26 shows the reproduction processing of therecording/reproducing apparatus 200.

If the user inputs an instruction of starting to reproduce (the step S32in FIG. 24: YES), the recording/reproducing apparatus 200 confirms thatthe optical disc 100 is not a blank disc (the step S61: NO), andreproduces the record data recorded in the user data area 101 on theoptical disc 100 (step S62). The recording/reproducing apparatus 200reproduces the record data, while performing the defect management onthe basis of the defect management information 140 stored in the defectmanagement device 477 of the backend 400.

As described above, according to the recording/reproducing apparatus200, (a) it generates the status information 150 and records thisinformation into the status information recording area 107 on theoptical disc 100 if recording the updated defect management information140 into any one of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B,and 106C on the optical disc 100. Moreover, (b) it reads the statusinformation 150 recorded in the status information recording area 107,and specifies the last defect management information 140 recorded in anyone of the temporary defect management areas 106A, 106B, and 106C, onthe basis of the status information 150. By this, it is possible torealize the quick specification and reading of the last defectmanagement information.

The present invention can be changed if desired without departing fromthe scope or spirit of the invention which can be read from the claimsand the entire specification. A write-once-type recording medium, arecording apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, a recording method, areproducing method, and a computer program that realizes thesefunctions, which accompany such changes, are also intended to be withinthe technical scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A write-once-type recording medium, a recording apparatus and arecording method for the write-once-type recording medium, a reproducingapparatus and a reproducing method for the write-once-type recordingmedium, and a computer program that realizes these functions associatedwith the present invention can be applied to a high-density recordingmedium, such as an optical disc, a magnetic disc, and a magneto-opticaldisc, for example. Moreover, they can be applied to a recording medium,a recording/reproducing apparatus, or the like, which are mounted on orcan be connected to various computer equipment, for example.

1. A write-once-type recording medium comprising: a data area to recordtherein record data; a first control information recording area, whichis located on inner circumferential side of said data area, to recordtherein information for controlling an operation of recording and/orreading in said data area, said control information recording areaincluding a definite defect management area to record therein defectmanagement information of said data area; a second control informationrecording area, which is located on outer circumferential side of saiddata area, to record therein information for controlling an operation ofrecording and/or reading in said data area, said control informationrecording area including a definite defect management area to recordtherein defect management information of said data area; a firsttemporary defect management area, which is located in said first controlinformation recording area, to temporarily record therein the defectmanagement information of said data area; a second temporary defectmanagement area, which is located between said first control informationrecording area and said data area, to temporarily record therein thedefect management information of said data area; a third temporarydefect management area, which is located between said second controlinformation recording area and said data area, to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of said data area; and astatus information recording area in which status information forindicating a recording status of one portion or each of said first tothird temporary defect management areas is to be recorded.
 2. Thewrite-once-type recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said dataarea comprises: a user data area to record therein the record data; andspare areas, which are located on inner and outer circumferential sidesof said data area, for recording the record data which is evacuated froma defect
 3. The write-once-type recording medium according to claim 1,wherein said status information recording area is placed in said controlinformation recording area.
 4. A recording apparatus for recordingrecord data onto a write-once-type recording medium comprising: (i) adata area to record therein the record data; (ii) a first controlinformation recording area, which is located on inner circumferentialside of said data area, to record therein information for controlling anoperation of recording and/or reading in said data area, said controlinformation recording area including a definite defect management areato record therein defect management information of said data area; (iii)a second control information recording area, which is located on outercircumferential side of said data area, to record therein informationfor controlling an operation of recording and/or reading in said dataarea, said control information recording area including a definitedefect management area to record therein defect management informationof said data area; (iv) a first temporary defect management area, whichis located in said first control information recording area, totemporarily record therein the defect management information of saiddata area; (v) a second temporary defect management area, which islocated between said first control information recording area and saiddata area, to temporarily record therein the defect managementinformation of said data area; (vi) a third temporary defect managementarea, which is located between said second control information recordingarea and said data area, to temporarily record therein the defectmanagement information of said data area; and (vii) a status informationrecording area in which status information for indicating a recordingstatus of one portion or each of said first to third temporary defectmanagement areas is to be recorded, said recording apparatus comprising:a first recording device for recording the record data into said dataarea; a second recording device for recording the defect managementinformation, into any one of said first to third temporary defectmanagement areas; a status information generating device for generatingthe status information for indicating the recording status of oneportion or each of said first to third temporary defect management areasand a third recording device for recording the status informationgenerated by said status information generating device, into said statusinformation recording area.
 5. A reproducing apparatus for reproducingrecord data recorded on a write-once-type recording medium comprising:(i) a data area to record therein the record data; (ii) a first controlinformation recording area, which is located on inner circumferentialside of said data area, to record therein information for controlling anoperation of recording and/or reading in said data area, said controlinformation recording area including a definite defect management areato record therein defect management information of said data area; (iii)a second control information recording area, which is located on outercircumferential side of said data area, to record therein informationfor controlling an operation of recording and/or reading in said dataarea, said control information recording area including a definitedefect management area to record therein defect management informationof said data area; (iv) a first temporary defect management area, whichis located in said first control information recording area, totemporarily record therein the defect management information of saiddata area; (v) a second temporary defect management area, which islocated between said first control information recording area and saiddata area, to temporarily record therein the defect managementinformation of said data area; (vi) a third temporary defect managementarea, which is located between said second control information recordingarea and said data area, to temporarily record therein the defectmanagement information of said data area; and (vii) a status informationrecording area in which status information for indicating a recordingstatus of one portion or each of said first to third temporary defectmanagement areas is to be recorded, said reproducing apparatuscomprising: a first reading device for reading the status informationrecorded in said status information recording area; an area recognizingdevice for recognizing one temporary defect management area in which thedefect management information recorded at last in time is recorded, onthe basis of the status information read by said first reading device; asecond reading device for reading the defect management informationrecorded in the one temporary defect management area recognized by saidarea recognizing device; and a reproducing device for reproducing therecord data recorded in said data area, on the basis of the defectmanagement information read by said second reading device.
 6. Arecording method of recording record data onto a write-once-typerecording medium comprising: (i) a data area to record therein therecord data; (ii) a first control information recording area, which islocated on inner circumferential side of said data area, to recordtherein information for controlling an operation of recording and/orreading in said data area, said control information recording areaincluding a definite defect management area to record therein defectmanagement information of said data area; (iii) a second controlinformation recording area, which is located on outer circumferentialside of said data area, to record therein information for controlling anoperation of recording and/or reading in said data area, said controlinformation recording area including a definite defect management areato record therein defect management information of said data area; (iv)a first temporary defect management area, which is located in said firstcontrol information recording area, to temporarily record therein thedefect management information of said data area; (v) a second temporarydefect management area, which is located between said first controlinformation recording area and said data area, to temporarily recordtherein the defect management information of said data area; (vi) athird temporary defect management area, which is located between saidsecond control information recording area and said data area, totemporarily record therein the defect management information of saiddata area; and (vii) a status information recording area in which statusinformation for indicating a recording status of one portion or each ofsaid first to third temporary defect management areas is to be recorded,said recording method comprising: a first recording process of recordingthe record data into said data area; a second recording process ofrecording the defect management information, into any one of said firstto third temporary defect management areas; a status informationgenerating process of generating the status information for indicatingthe recording status of one portion or each of said first to thirdtemporary defect management areas; and a third recording process ofrecording the status information generated in said status informationgenerating process, into said status information recording area.